Decline in Death Rate – A Major Cause of Human Population in India

Birth and death rates are two major factors that determine the population growth of a country. The excess of births over deaths in a year per 1000 in the population is called the growth rate.

The birth rate, death rate and growth rate are called vital rates as a change in any of these affects population growth. Table 4.6 clearly shows that since the first census, a hundred years ago, the death rate has decreased considerably whereas the birth rate has not gone down considerably.

So it is decrease in death rate, maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) as well as increase in longevity which are two primary factors for the increase in human population.

The increase in birth rate has not led to the increase in population. According to the 2011 census, the birth rate in India declined from 36 per 1,000 in 1981 to 30.5 in 1991 and then to 26 in 2001 and finally to 22.22 in 2011 while the death rate declined from 13.8 per 1,000 in 1981 to 9.4 in 1991 and then to 8 in 2001 and finally to 6.4 in 2011.

Table 4.6. Birth and Death rates in India.

Period

Birth Rate

Death Rate

Growth Rate Percent

1891-1901

45.8

44.4

0.14

1971-1981

36.0

13.8

2.22

1981-1991

30.5

9.4

2.11

1991 -2001

26.0

8.0

1.8

2001 – 2011

22.22

6.4

1.58

Various factors contributing to the decrease in death rate are:

(a) Control of Diseases:

The advances made in the field of medicine and surgery have greatly controlled diseases and have protected man from unnatural death. Several bacterial and viral diseases can be treated by antibiotics.

(b) Decrease in Infant mortality:

Due to better public health care, more and more people survive upto reproductive age. These measures also caused decline in infant mortality rate. Infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) was 89 in M.P., 86 in U.P., 85 in Rajasthan while it was only 15 in Kerala. National average of IMR is 72 per 1000.

(c) Better sanitation and Community health schemes:

These have increased average lifespan. (According to World Bank Report, average lifespan of man was 60.4 years during 1988-95 period, while it was 55 years during 1980-85 period and 50 years during 1970-71.) According to 2011 census, life expectancy of an Indian is 69.89 years.

(d) Improvement in Agriculture:

It included mechanization of agriculture; use of disease free, hybrid and high yielding varieties of seeds; and use of fertilizers and pesticides etc. These have tremendously increased food production and availability. This has guaranteed adequate food for all.

(e) Better means of transport:

These have declined the number of deaths due to starvation and famines.

(f) Better storage conditions:

These include warehouses etc., which have enabled the availability of food at all the times. Not only these, there are many other socio-economic reasons (e.g., signs of national strength, religious and economic beliefs; signs of security in old age; more earning hands in family etc., that have led to an increase in the human population. A substantial number of Indian men, irrespective of their religion or community practice polygamy.